Emma asked me about her mom's favorite  - that has become her favorite, after her mom passed away, Juice Newton. I played all of Juice Newton's songs for many years on the radio, as she was a very popular figure in music of all kinds.  She was remarkably talented with a gigantic voice and large mass appeal.  One of her many gifts to us was introducing country to many new fans!

Her First Number One - Huge Hit!  This Video Has 61 Million Views!

One of the ongoing arguments in today's country music conversation is, "Hey, that ain't country."  And many think that's a new revelation.  It's not.  It's been around for decades, and Juice Newton was in that conversation many years ago, as say Maren Morris is today.  I understand it, as there are artists that come around every now and again that defy traditional thinking of many fans and have big success like Newton and Morris.  Juice Newton had big success. Her shockingly powerful voice and her huge musical arrangements made her stand out from the crowd in a big way. You knew it was a Juice Newton song.  And she charted on many charts.

Second Big Hit!

Judy Kay Newton broke through in 1981 after a few failed albums with a band of another name, with her solo album called, Juice.  I love that album, as it had a ton of great songs on it, including three huge hits and some of the best album cuts you will ever hear.  It's so worth a download.  Angel Of The Morning was a huge song both pop and country, Queen Of Hearts and The Sweetest Thing  - same.  I think it's one of the best pop country albums ever. And for the next seven years, Juice Newton was here to stay.  She racked up 6 number one songs.  She also had a big following outside of the U.S.

 This Song #1 And A Real Favorite For Years! 

Juice Newton was blessed with one of those voices that was incredibly mass appeal.  She would sound good singing anything. She knew where the notes were, and found them perfectly. Her music was a blend of pop, country, folk, and about 5 other genres, and she sounds at home singing any or all of them.  As far as country was concerned she was puzzling to us.  She debuted as Urban Cowboy was flying high, with a poppy country sound dominating us, so she was right on time. As time went by and the mid 80's hit, the shift was starting traditional, and Juice was not.  In short, it was hard to see exactly where she fit in the best.

 This Was A Big Pop And Country Hit

But she had real chart success till about 1987, and fortunate for her she had forged a following in and out of country.   She had a bunch of #1 country songs, and won a Grammy or two.  I always liked Juice Newton, as I felt she was immensely talented as a singer, and I loved her dedication to record just "good music" without any real borders.  And even if you knew nothing about country, you knew her, and if you were all country, you knew her. 

 Maybe A Bit Too Pop, But A Fun Song...

Juice Newton had a great run, but many more like her found that the compass of Country was set in a new direction by the late 80's, as it was navigating traditional and was not coming back.  The country-pop sound was being phased out and replaced with a new direction and new artists.  In today's country music, there is room for some crossover music, as it is back in some fashion for some. We as a music listening society are a bit more forgiving and tolerant of the wide array of country music styles that is out there.  Florida Georgia Line, Taylor Swift, Morris, and others are not 100% country and have all had, or are having great success.  Back in the late 80's the shift was swift, and absolute. If you were not Country - there was little room left.

 Her Last Top 10 Song